Keralam Assembly Speaker rules against bringing fibre lathi into House

On October 12, CPI(M) legislator V. Joy entered the Kerala Assembly carrying a broken fibre police lathi, a symbol of recent police action against student activists of the Students' Federation of India in Thiruvananthapuram. Joy intended to use the lathi as visual evidence while requesting permission to introduce an adjournment motion that would question the conduct of law enforcement officers involved in the arrests. The Speaker, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, intervened, stating that the rules of the House prohibit the introduction of any weapon or object that could disrupt decorum.

The Speaker's ruling emphasized the need to maintain order and respect for parliamentary procedures. He explained that allowing a police weapon, even in a broken state, could set a precedent for future disruptions and undermine the authority of the Assembly. The decision was supported by members of the opposition, who argued that the matter could be raised through written submissions rather than a physical display. The incident has sparked a broader debate about the balance between protest tactics and legislative protocol within Kerala's political culture.

The controversy comes at a time when student activism and police responses have drawn public attention across the state. The SFI activists' arrests were criticized by civil society groups, who called for greater accountability. By rejecting the lathi display, the Speaker signaled that the Assembly will address such concerns through established channels rather than symbolic gestures. Observers suggest that the episode may influence how future protests are staged within legislative settings and could lead to clearer guidelines on the use of visual aids in parliamentary debates.